Segregating apparatus



April 9, 1929. F. HEATH SEGREGATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR. A'EANK HE'A TH ATTORNEY Filed Dec. 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. fiiaqzm' HEATH A TTORN E Y Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

tlNlTED STATES FRANK HEATH, OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA.

SEGBEGATING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 28, 1925.

fly invention relates to a segregating apparatus, particularly adapted for segregating fish from each other.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improvements over my copending application for fish segregating, directing, guiding and turning apparatus, filed in the United States Patent Ofiice, June 25th, 1925, Serial No. 39,557, patented May 10, 1927, No. 1,627,899.

The objects of my improvements are: first, to provide a simple and economical segregating apparatus for segregating a number of articles, such as fish, one from another, so that the same may be operated on individually; second, to provide an a oaratus of this class which is so constructed that the same may be readily adjusted for segregating articles, or fish, of different sizes; third, to provide an apparatus of this class which is continually vibrated or oscillated during the segregating operation; fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the segregating members, or the supporting table, in connection w th the segregating members, may be readily adjusted to various angles with the hor zontal plane to facilitate or retard the feeding of the articles, or fish, through the segregating apparatus; fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class whereby the adjustment mentioned may be effected without affecting the operating mechanism in its intended function; sixth, to provide a novelly constructed segregating apparatus, and seventh, to provide an apparatus of this class which is durable, efficient, positive and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of my segregating apparatus in one form of construction, the view being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, certain parts and portions being removed to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational vie thereof, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, certain parts and portions being Serial No. 157,523.

broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view thereof, taken through 33 of 2, and Fig. 4 is another fragmentary sectional view thereof, taken through l4 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings. Although my segregating apparatus, as illustrated, is adapted for segregating articles of various kinds, I shall describe the same in its particular relation to segregating fish.

The fish are received on the table or sup- ;orting means of the segregating apparatus from the delivery member or plate B on which the fish are positioned crosswise to the apparatus and delivered parallel to the segregating members, to be described hereaiter. he table or supporting means consists of thin metal plates 1, 2 and 3, the former overlapping, respectively, the latter. The plates are mounted at their opposite ends on arms and'are adjustably secured thereto by means of bolts 5, which extend through transverse slots at the ends of the plates 1, 2 and 3, as shown best in Fig. 2. The arms 4 are normally inclined with the horizontal plane at such an angle that the fish deposited at the front or high portion of the table are fed by gravity consecutively from the plate 1, over the plate 2, to the edge of the plate 3, which is the low portion of the table. The lower or normally rear ends of the arms 4 are pivotally supported on oscillating arms 6 at the opposite sides of the apparatus. The upper ends of the arms 6 are pivotally mounted on the main frame 7 and are provided at their lower ends with bifurcated portions 6. Said latter portions straddle eccentrics 8, which are mounted on shafts 9 revolubly mounted on the frame 7 and in journals 10. The shaft 9 is driven by a gear 11, which is driven by a larger gear 12 mounted on a shaft 13, extending from one side of the apparatus to the other and adapted for driving other portions of the apparatus. The opposite ends of the plate or table supporting arms 4 are pivotally connected to and supported by the up per ends of rods 14, one at each side of the machine. The lower ends of the rods 14 are pivotally connected to and supported by arms 15 correspondingly positioned relative to the arms i, but at the lower portion of the justing screws 16 by means of nuts 16 at the opposite sides of the arms.

Intermediate the ends of the rods 14:, and extending in the same general direct-ion as the arms 4 and 15, are pivotally mounted the ends of guide heads 17, which are pivot-ally connected at their opposite ends on supporting slides 18, which are reciprocally mounted in brackets 19 supported by the frame 7. Thus, when the arms at are oscillated-back and forth, or vibrated, by the oscillating arms 6, the guide head 17 is correspondingly and simultaneously shifted back and forth.

On the guide heads 17 are reciprocally mounted slides 20, which extend lengthwise with respect to the front and rear sides of the apparatus. Said slides are normally held in their lower positions by means of compression springs 21 positioned between said slides and the upper portions of said guide heads. Said slides are reciprocated or intermittently forced against the springs 21 by rocker arms 22 pivotally mounted intermediatetheir ends on the frame 7 and pivotall'y connected at their ends by means of adjustable links 23 to the lower ends of the slides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The opposite ends of the rockers arms 22 are intermittently depressed by earns 24 which are mounted ona shaft 25 revolubly mounted on brackets 26 supported on the frame 7.

The plates 1, 2 and 3 are provided, respectively, with longitudinally extending slots 1, 2 and 3, through which extend, respectively, the segregating plates 27, 23 and 29. Said plates 27, 28 and 29 consist preferably of long strips or plates 27 28 and 29 positioned below the plates 1, 2 and 3, and segregating portions 27 28 and 29 secured to the upper edges of said long strips or plates and normally extended through, or partially through, the slots 1, 2 am 3, respectively. To prevent the segregating portions of the segregating plates from being wholly withdrawn from the slotted portions and from being redirected into said slotted portions, there are provided angles 30 at the under sides of the plates-1, 2 and 3 at the opposite sides of the longitudinal slots therein, which angles are adapted, at all times, to direct the segregating portions of the segregating plates through the latter. The opposite ends of the strip, or supporting portions, of the segregating plates, are sesides on a rod 3 1, which is pivotally connected to the one end of a lever as, which lever is pivoted intermediate its ends by means of a bracket 35 secured to the member 7. The other end of this lever 34- is connected with the crankshaft. It will be noted that the connection of the guide plates with the bracket 34 and lever 34 provides for sidewise reciprocation of the plates 33 for positioning the fish endwise.

Pivotallymounted on the frame 7, at the upper side at one end, is a lever 36, upon the lower end of which'is secured a plate 37, which extends along near the lower ends of the plates 33 so that when the lever 36 moves upon its pivotal mounting, the plate 37 moves against. and from the ends of said plates. This lever 36 is provided with an arm 36 which extends outwardly and is pivotally connected with a rod 38. The other end of said rod pivotally connects with a lever .39, which is pivot-ally mounted on the side frame 7 intermediate its ends. The opposite end of said; lever 39 engages the cammember- 24, thus providing means for shifting the plate 37 relative to the move ment of the members 27 28 and 29 for releasing and holding the fish as they are segregated and before being dropped between the brushes C.

As a number of fish are discharged from theplate B on the plate 1 at the front side of the segregating plate 27, the'fish are post tioned parallel with the segregating plate and usually flatwiseon the plate 1. As the segregating members are withdrawn from the plates 1, 2 and 3 by the action of the springs 21, facilitated by the cams 2a, the fish are permitted to slide into the space between the segregating members 27 and 2,

facilitated by the oscillation or vibration of the supporting plates. The segregating members 27, 28 and 29 are immediately shifted to the position as shown, checking further tendency of the fish to proceed toward the lower end or lower edge of the table. The segregating member 27 acting in rapid succession, will usually permit only one fish to pass during each interval. If more than one fish should pass into the space between the members 27 and 23, the same are separated by the plate 28 during the next most.

In order to facilitate the feeding of the fish on the table A, the latter is vibrated or rapidly oscillated by the a The feed ing of the fish from the upper to the lower portion of the table A is also facilitated, or retarded, by raising, or lowering, the forward ends of the arms 4: by the adjudging screws 16. In order to accommodate larger fish, or to increase the space between the segregating members, the plates 1, 2 and 3 are separated by means of the screws 5. When the plates 1, 2 and 3 are separated, the pivotal connections of the lower ends of the supporting rods or members 31, with the slide 20, are correspondingly adjusted. It will be noted that when the arm 15 is adjusted by the screw 16, the connecting link between the rocker arm :22 and the slide 20 is correspondingly adjusted.

Though I have shown and d scribed a particular construction, combination and arrang ment of parts and portions, I do not Wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desirto include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a rapidly moving inclined table, and segregating members dividing said table into arate spaces, said members being movably mounted relative to the table for intermittently connecting said spaces with each other and also movable with said table.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table comprising a plurality of overlapping plates adjustable relative to eacn other, and segregating members in connection with each of said plates, movable relative thereto and adjustable therewith.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table comprising a plurality of overlapping plates adjustable relative to each other, segregating members in connection with each of said plates, movable relative thereto and adjustable therewith, and agitating means connected to said table for agitating the same. 7

e. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table comprising a plurality of overlapping plates adjustable relative to each other, segregating members in connection with each of said plates, movable relative thereto and adjustable therewith, agitating means connected to said table for tating the same, and means for adusting the upper portion of said table independently of said agitating means and adapted to be agitated with said table by said agitating means.

5. in an apparatus of the class described. a table, segregating members dividing said table into separate spaces, agitating members supporting the one side of said table and adapted to agitate the latte and a ljusting means connector to the opposite side of said table for adjusting the elevation thereof.

6. In an apparatus of the class do: a table, segregating members divid table into separate spaces, agitating members supporting the one side said table and adapted to agitate the latter, and adjusting means connected to the opposite sire of said table for adjusting the elevation thereof, and for simultaneously adjusting said members, said table bein adjustable independently of said agitating means.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table having plurality allel slots, and a plurality of segregating members reciprocally mounted in said slots adapted to be intermittently raised above said table and lowered below the upper surface thereof, said table being extendible and contractible transversely for separating and contracting said slots and said segregating members relative to each other.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table having a plurality of parallel slots, a plurality of segregating members reciprocally mounted in said slots adapted to be intermittently raised above said table and lowered below the upper surface thereof, a guiding head mounted in alinement with said segregating members, a slide reciprocally mounted in said guiding head, means for reciprocating said slide, and rod means connecting said slide with said segregating members.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table having a plurality of parallel slots, a plurality of segregating members reciprocally mounted in said slots adapted to be intermittently raised above aid table and lowered below the upper sur face thereof, said table being extendible and contractible transversely for separating and contracting said slots and said segregating members relative to each other. means for pivotally supporting one side of said table, a guide head pivotally' connected with said means, a slide reciprocally mounted in said head, means for reciprocating said slide, and rods pivotally connecting said slide with said segregating members, the connections of said rods with said slide being adjustable 1 to conform with the relative extension and contraction of said segregating members.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table having a plurality of parallel slot-s, a plurality of segregating members reciprocally mounted in said slots adapted to be intermittently raised above said table and lowered below the upper surface thereof, means for pivotally supporting the one side of said table, agitating means for agitating said table and for pivotally supporting the opposite side thereof, a guiding head pivotally connected .to said supporting means, a slide reciprocally mounted in said head, means for reciproeating said slide, and, rod means pivotally connecting said slide with said segregating members.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table having a plurality of parallel slots, a plurality of segregating members reciprocally mounted in said slots adapted to be intermittently raised above said table and lowered below the upper surface thereof, means for pivotally supporting the one side of said table, agitating m ans for agitating said table and for pivotally supporting the opposite side there-' of, a guiding head pivot-ally connected to said supporting means, a slide reciprocally mounted in said head, means for reciproeating said slide, rod means pivotally connecting said slide with said segregating members, and means for adjusting said supporting means, said .table and said guiding head.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined table having a plurality of parallel slots, a plurality of segregating members reciprocally mounted in said slots adapted to be intermittently raised above said table and lowered below the upper surfacethereof, a: rocker arm operatively connected at one end with said segregating members and said table for shifting the same, and cam means for actuating said rocker arm.

13. In "a fish isolating apparatus a chute for receiving simultaneously a plurality of fish, gates positioned transversely on said chute, said gates dividing said chutes into elongated transverse, sections adapted to cause sidewise disposition of said fish in said chute, means for permitting the opening and closing of said gate and means for agitating said chute whereby an isolated delivery of said fish at the end of said chute is effected.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 15th day of December, 1926..

- FRANK HEATH. 

